Silver Pieces - The Strange and Peculiar

The Story Behind this Blog

Being from the South, Silver is a very big part of my life. It doesn't have anything to do with wealth. Although those with more money - old money, tend to have more of it. New money tend not to spend their money on Silver. They do not have the appreciation for the warmth of the metal, the beauty of the patina, the story it tells of the generations past who have used it. A true southern girl comes of age when she chooses her silver pattern, long before she chooses her mate. If she is smart, she chooses that of her mother, grandmother, or favorite great aunt who in their benevolence will pass their silver on to her. It is the pieces in those sets, the pieces on our tables, along with the pieces we find in the corners of the displays in antique stores that prompted me to start this blog. They are beautiful, they are odd, but what are they, and what in the hell do you do with them?

Monday, September 28, 2020

LaFrance by Dominik and Haff

Lafrance by Dominik and Haff dates back to 1919.

Dinner Fork (7 5/7 inches)

Dominick & Haff La France (Sterling, 1916) Fork

Friday, September 25, 2020

William and Mary by Wallace

A newer pattern, Wallace's William and Mary only dates back to 2008.

Dinner Fork (8 inches)

Wallace Silver William & Mary (Sterling, 2008) Fork

Teaspoon (5 3/4 inches)

Wallace Silver William & Mary (Sterling, 2008) Teaspoon

Dinner Knife (9 3/4 inches)

Wallace Silver William & Mary (Sterling, 2008) Modern Hollow Knife

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Valencia by International

International's Valencia pattern 'only" dates back to 1965.

Sugar Tongs (4 7/8 inches)

International Silver Valencia (Sterling, 1965) Sugar Tongs

Demitasse Spoon (4 1/2 inches)

International Silver Valencia (Sterling, 1965) Demitasse Spoon

Dinner Fork (7 1/2 inches)

International Silver Valencia (Sterling, 1965) Fork

Monday, September 21, 2020

F Antoine Heller (1840 - 1904 )

We admire the different patterns of sterling flatware by the different companies, however we need to remember that someone had to create the designs. Each different pattern and, often, pieces within a pattern, are works of art. There are many better known sterling designers, such as J. Russell Price. My favorite, and one of the most famous, is Antoine Heller.

Heller was a French designer. His work was often of the Beaux Arts style. Heller patterns are very intricate in their design. An example, and probably his best known, is Mythologigue, that he created for Gorham. Introduced in 1895, of the 72 pieces in the pattern there are 24 unique designs.

But Heller started with Tiffany, where he was best known for Olympian (1878), another with multiple unique designs within the one pattern. Gorham was so impressed his work, they convinced him to leave Tiffany and design for Gorham.

While at Gorham he created Cluny (1880)

Coligni (1898)

Fountainbleau (1882)

St Cloud (1885)

Olympian for Tiffany

Friday, September 18, 2020

Honeysuckle by Durgin

Durgin introduced their Honeysuckle pattern in 1886.

Sugar Shell (5 7/8 inches)

Durgin Honeysuckle (Sterling, 1886) Sugar Shell Spoon

Large Casserole Spoon (9 1/4 inches)

Durgin Honeysuckle (Sterling, 1886) Brightcut Solid Large Berry/Casserole Spoon

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

DHS7 by Dominick and Haff

Dominick and Haff's DHS7 pattern has Art Deco lines and dates back to 1900.

Long Handled Olive Fork (6 7/8 inches)

Dominick & Haff DHS7 Long Handle Olive Fork

Monday, September 14, 2020

English Rose by Durgin

Durgin's Enlgish Rose pattern only dates back to 1955. However, it is the same pattern as Alvin's and Gorham's Cambridge pattern that dates back 1899.

Iced Teaspoon (7 5/8 inches)